Get All Access for $5/mo

Man Dies in Harrowing Miscalculation By GPS System A North Carolina man was led to a bridge that closed almost a decade ago by his GPS system.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

For most people, using a GPS system in your car or on your phone is a commonplace, daily occurrence.

But for one North Carolina man, relying on his GPS system led to a devastating mistake that cost him his life.

On September 30, Phil Paxson was driving home from his daughter's birthday party on a reportedly stormy night in Hickory, North Carolina when his GPS system led him to what had once been a bridge.

"He was following his GPS which led him down a concrete road to a bridge that dropped off into a river. The bridge had been destroyed 9 years ago and never repaired," Paxson's mother-in-law wrote on Facebook. "It lacked any barriers or warning signs to prevent the death of a 47-year-old father of two daughters. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. It was a totally preventable accident."

Paxon's wife also posted on her Facebook page saying that she wanted to make people "aware what an avoidable tragedy this is."

Per reports of the incident, barricades had been set in place to warn drivers not to drive through the area, but people had been complaining for "years" about how badly it needed to be repaired.

The roadway is private, which means that the North Carolina Department of Transportation can not actively repair it, as it is not considered a public grounds.

"In North Carolina, counties do not maintain roads. In general, owners of private roads associated with subdivisions could be the subdivision developers, a homeowners association, or the property owners in the subdivision," North Carolina's WCNC reported.

According to Psychreg, over 200,000 accidents are caused by GPS devices every year.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

These Companies Offer the Best Work-Life Balance, According to Employees

The ranking is based on Glassdoor ratings and reviews.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

Why Your AI Strategy Will Fail Without the Right Talent in Place

Using fractional AI experts through specialized platforms allows companies to access top talent cost-effectively, drive innovation and scale agile strategies for growth.

Science & Technology

Use This Framework to Successfully Integrate AI Into Your Business Operations

Here's how to ensure both innovation and compliance when using AI in your organization.

Business News

Here's What the CPI Report Means for Your Wallet, According to JPMorgan and EY Experts

Most experts agree that there will be another rate cut next week.